Category: Literary Criticism

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Review: The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley (Audible Edition)

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley (Audible Edition)

I am a big big big Lucinda Riley fan. I have read almost all of her books and have loved many of them. This book is probably one of her most popular books and the reviews have consistently been strong, but it’s one of the few books I haven’t read by her. So I thought it was time to rectify that and start reading it—well listening to it.

Sadly, this one felt like a chore for me. I kept listening and listening and listening hoping that it would get better but for me it just fell flat. I had very high hopes for this one but it just wasn’t up to the Riley standard for me. I will say though, I am glad I listened to this one instead of physically reading it. There were a lot of difficult names and places that I would have had no clue how to pronounce had it not been for the amazing narrator.

I hate when I have to ‘make up’ how a town or person pronounces their name and that’s the beauty of Audible for me, I love knowing exactly how to pronounce a person’s name or the town etc. The narrators of this edition were great and I really liked their performance. Honestly I don’t think I would have kept reading/listening if it wasn’t for them.

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Review: Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson

I have really enjoyed the ‘proper romance’ books from Shadow Mountain publishing over the years and their covers are so great. Every time I see one of them I know that I am instantly going to enjoy the book. Some more than others of course, but generally their proper romances are all great reads and for me, they read very quick.

When this one came up for review, I knew it was an easy yes. It sounded so great, an arranged marriage and two characters that ultimately fall in love against all odds. I had read a couple of other reviews before picking this one up and saw that many reviewers noted it was a slow burn romance and I love slow burn romances. So needless to say I was eager to check this one out.

If historical romance is your jam, then you should definitely check out Shadow Mountain publisher because they have a number of titles to choose from and many of them are off the beaten path and charming. I adore their titles. While I didn’t love this one as much as I had anticipated, it was still a good read and I am glad that I picked it up!

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Review: Mrs Boots Goes to War by Deborah Carr

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Mrs Boots Goes to War by Deborah Carr

Last year I read the first book in the ‘Mrs Boots’ books, titled Mrs Boots. I loved it and couldn’t wait to read the next book but then somewhere along the way I must have missed the second book. This one then came up for review (this third book) and I instantly realized that I must have missed book two (I thought this one was book two).

I should have probably set this one down and gone back to read the second book so that I could fully understand the scope of the story and all that had happened from book one until now, but I didn’t. It took me a few chapters to realize I missed a book but by that point I was already wrapped up in the book 3 story that I just kept reading.

If you love historical fiction, the Ms Boots books are wonderful. They have rich historical details as well as a wonderful story. I felt like these books could be read as stand-alones, I mean I inadvertently skipped around, but I am going to go back and read book two because they are so well written and full of historical detail that’s interesting and fun.

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Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

I absolutely loved Emily Henry’s novel Beach Read last year and I couldn’t wait to see what she came up with next. With any big hit, there is always pressure to recreate the magic and produce an even better second novel so while I had high expectations, I also tried not to get too excited as Beach Read was fantastic and topping that would be a tall order.

Normally I am not a huge fan of the friends to lovers troupe, I generally prefer enemies to lovers but in some cases the friends to lovers troupe works out well. Beach Read was more enemies to lovers where as People We Meet on Vacation is more friends to lovers. I was eager to see how Henry would portray Alex and Poppy in this book.

If you haven’t read anything by Henry before, I would say both of her more well known novels, this one and Beach Read, are probably your best bet. Personally I preferred Beach Read over this one, but this one was still wonderful and funny not to mention a quick read that will leave you satisfied and wanting to read more books by this author, not to mention ready for your next vacation!

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Review: The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

I have been a big fan of Chanel Cleeton for a while now. I have loved all her books and whenever I see that she has a new book coming out, I fan-girl pretty hard! But this book in particular made me really fan-girl. Most of Cleeton’s have a strong historical fiction component but it’s mostly 1930s or 1950s/60s time period, which is fine but its truthfully not my favorite time in history.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Cleeton’s books but historically, the modern era isn’t my fav, but when I saw this book was coming out and it was set at the end of the 19th century, I couldn’t contain my excitement because that is my favorite time period! Since reading her books, I have come to really appreciate Cuban history. It’s history that I know nothing about but Cleeton makes me want to know all the Cuban things!

If you love historical fiction but haven’t read Cleeton’s books, you need to just stop reading this review and go grab one! Her books are so unique in their setting and history that you can’t help but be transported. There is a romance element but for me the real interest is in the history part, I mean I love the romance but the history is just so different and I truly feel like I am reading something fresh and new every time I read one of her books!

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